Two unusual records of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) in the Moravian Karst (Czech Republic).

Abstract

During a census of bats hibernating in the Sloupsko-šošůvské Caves in February 2010, a total of 739 R. hipposideros were recorded. Among them, a complete albino was examined and found to be a female born in the previous summer. The cases of partial and complete albinism in R. hipposideros reported so far are reviewed; all records were made in Central Europe in the Czech and Slovak territories. Also a copulating pair of R. hipposideros was documented and photographed. Unlike hibernating individuals, the bats were alert, in dorso-ventral contact with the male biting his mate’s dorsal fur.